Critical access hospital

A critical access hospital (CAH) in the United States is a type of Medicare facility designation for certain rural hospitals, available through a state's rural hospital flexibility program (flex program). These programs allow states to designate small rural hospitals as CAHs if they are sufficiently distant from other facilities, provide 24-hour emergency services, and meet limits on inpatient beds and length of stay. The programs and designations were first authorized by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.

As of July 2025, there were 1,377 certified critical access hospitals in 45 states; Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Rhode Island did not have any CAHs.

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